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June 6, 2009

Idiot of the Week: Wiley Drake

Idiocy of this magnitude deserves attention, and that is exactly what it gets right here in the Idiot of the Week series. A new winner is announced each Saturday.

As has been fairly obvious to readers of Atheist Revolution lately, I was and continue to be upset by the murder of Dr. George Tiller. It is not simply that he may have been killed by someone who appears to be a Christian terrorist. Nor is it that the suspect appears to be an avid consumer of Fox "News," that the role of Christian extremism seems quite evident here, or even that the murder is being celebrated by Christian extremists. It is also that he was one of a tiny number of physicians with enough courage to provide a controversial but necessary service to American women and that he will be difficult to replace. Thus, I hold special contempt for this week's honoree, Pastor Wiley Drake, and acknowledge that this goes well beyond mere idiocy.

I’ve been a Baptist pastor for a long time, been in the pro-life fight, been face-to-face with Tiller, told him about Jesus, and I’ve seen many, many others tell him about Jesus over and over and over again. And I’ve seen horrific things that go on in those death abortuaries — and that’s what they are — and so my initial response to those people, they said, 'Well what was your response,' and I said, 'Well, in all honesty I have to just respond directly and say I am glad that he’s dead.'

The murder of Dr. Tiller is abhorrent to most people, regardless of their views on the subject of abortion. However, Christian extremists such as Pastor Drake appear to have few moral qualms over this crime.

In the unlikely event that this is not enough for you, Pastor Drake is also the one who has been in the news lately praying for the death of President Obama (i.e., imprecatory prayer).